Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-01-28
CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER III.
The hot RAYS of the sun in June were
a. he = cst-end streets. a. three zen
t.y.nrn strolicd arm-in-arm Through
one of them. Three men more different
III appearance il would be rare to meet
He who walked in the middle vas BY
fOur-and-twentv. attired in mourning.
His regular features had an open ex-
preston, his blue eyes were set some
what deep in his head. and their long
eyelashes, nearly black. We're darker
than his hair. He on the right was a
stout man of five or six-and-fiftv, with
amass Of iron-gra hair; and his prOmi-
nent eyes shonc out, hard and bold,
through his gold-rimmed glasses. The
other was short and thin, and stopped
in the shoulders. with keen jct-black
eyes overhanging hooked nose; and
his eyes looked too keen and his nose
too hooked for his thirty years. The
stout one was Colonel Haughton. the
keen one Mr.. Piggott, and the middle
one Charles Dalrymple. Suddenly the
latter stood still, and gazed across the
street.
"What now, Dalrymple?"
There's my cousin Oscar. If ever
saw him in my life, that is he. What
brings him in town? I'll wish you
good-day, and be after him."
ITO meet tonight" quickly cried
Colonel Haughton.
ITO meet tonight, of course. Nc
fear of my not coming for my re-
venge." And so saying, Charles Dal-
rymple disengaged himself from the
other two, and flew across the street
Oscar, Oscar, is it you? When did
you get here?"
"Ah! how are you? Twas on my
way to South Audley street to find you
out"
''Come for long stay?" demanded
Charles, as he linked his arm within
his cousin's-who, by the way, was a
cousin some degrees removed.
row." replied Oscar Dalrymple.
''You don't mean that, man? Visit
London in the height of the season,
and stop day only! Such calamity
was never heard Of"
II can not afford to stay" said Os.
car. MY purse is not long enough
for London"
''Then what did you come for?"
"a small matter of business brought
me-" returned Oscar; who did not
choose to tell Charles that he was come
to look after him. News of Charles
dOings, or rather misdoings, had trav.
eled to his mothers remote home, the
Grange, and she had written to Oscar
to proceed to London and see what was
amiss.
Oscar said nothing of this. Cold
cautious and secretive, he determined
first of all to look and mark; he might
gather something by signs. If evel
two natures were opposed to each 9th
er, his and Charles were, the one all
cool calculation, the other all thought
less impulse. Oscar had also the adj
vantage of Charles, by half dozer
years.
They dined together at Charles
rooms. Charles urged some outdoor
attractions afterward, but he urged
them in vain. Oscar preferred to re-
main at home. So they sat, and
smoked. and slipped their wine; at least
Charles smoked, Oscar was not given tc
the habit. Still he said nothing. Al
eleven o'clock he rose.
ut is time for sober people to be in
bed, Charles. 1 hope have not kept
you up"
Charles Dalrymple fairly exploded
with laughter. Kept him up! at only
eleven o'clock!
my evening is not begun yet" said
he.
''Nor returned Oscar, looking sur.
prised, whether he felt so ornot 'Whai
do you mean?'
81 am engaged for the evening tc
Colonel Haughton.
ut is curiors time to begin an even
ing. What are you going to do at Col
onel Haughton So"
Cant tell till I get there"
Can l accompany your"
Charles face turned grave. "No,'
said he, cit is liberty may not take.
Colonel Haughton might resent it. He
is peculiar-tempercd man."
Goodnight.
Goodnight, Oscar. Come to break.
fast at ten."
Oscar Dalrymple departed. But he
did not proceed to the hotel, where he
had engaged bed; on the contrary, be
took up his station in a shady place
whence he could see the door he had
just come out of; covering there like
a house-breaker watching the putting
out of the lights in the house he con.
templates honoring with a midnight
visit; or, like the policeman keeping
himself dark while he watches for 8
housebreaker. Presently he saw Charles
Dalrymple emerge from it and betake
himself away.
Hardly had his echoing footsteps
died out when Oscar retraced his steps
to the house and knocked. His cousins
own man answered it. A faithful ser
want, getting on in years now, Charles
was the third of the family he had
served.
Reuben" said Mr.. Dalrymple, 80
think have left note-case in the sit
The note-case was looked for without
success; and Oscar discovered that il
was safe in his pocket. Perhaps ht
knew that all the while.
81 am sorry to have troubled you fol-
nothing, Reuben. Did l call you out Of
your bed?"
mo, no." answered the man, shak
ing head. There's rarely much bed
for me now. before daylig ht, Mr.. Os
car"
"How is that?" inquired Oscar.
II suppose young men must b.
young men," he replied. Il should
not mind that; but Mr.. Charles is get
ting into just the habits of his uncle. .
Oscar looked up quickly. Ellis uncle
Charles Dalrymple?" he asked. in a low
tone.
Gay, he is. My heart is almost mad
at times with fear. However, / sup
pose must not talk about it. If my
dear late master was alive, though,
should just go down to the Grange and
tell him every thing"
A new idea floated over the mind Of
Oscar as he listened. 1t gathered
strength. Mrs. Dalrymple had moi
mentioned whence she had received
news of Charles exploits, but he now
felt sure it was from no other than Reu-
ben.